Despite being under 40, Adler Poh grew up surrounded by the textures of an older Singapore – kopitiams, void deck gatherings, wet markets at dawn. Those early memories now inform Adler Provisions, his stripped back coffee and snacks venture built to keep everyday Singapore heritage alive.
Poh grew up in Katong, “back when wet markets weren’t too regulated and there was charm to the chaos”. On Sundays, he would tag along along with his mother and grandmother, ending the trip with a hawker breakfast amid shouted orders, clattering bowls and uncles magically churning hundreds of plates at a fast speed.
Being the son of a Singapore Airlines cabin crew member – Poh’s father once served on the airline’s Concorde flights in the late seventies – nudged him towards hospitality. At 25 he opened Adler Luxury Hostel in Chinatown. Later he ran APAC business development at WeWork. Three months ago he pivoted again, launching Adler Provisions with a clear brief: small batch staples that treat everyday flavours with respect.
His first drop? Singapore kopi. “We roast with precision and keep the soul of Nanyang coffee intact – just without the margarine,” Poh says. “It is heritage sharpened for today.”
Here, Poh shares his list of local rituals that best reveal the Little Red Dot.
1. Seek out classic kopitiam culture
Poh likes the old guard shops where kopi is still brewed in metal kettles then “poured in long clean arcs” between tumblers. “Watch how they make kopi O or kopi C. The steps look simple yet every stall has its own style.”
Ordering shorthand – siew dai, kosong, gao – gives you a quick hit of belonging. Try Colbar, Hwa Bee, Heap Seng Leong or Boh Geh Uncle Canteen.
2. Visit wet markets at dawn
For Poh, the wet market is Singapore at full voltage. “My mum used to take me to Old Airport Road at six in the morning. That rush before breakfast – stallholders greeting every regular, cleavers going nonstop – it stays with you.”
After weaving through the aisles, head to the hawkers for breakfast. “Geylang Serai, Tekka and Chinatown Complex are standout picks. Chinatown Complex’s ground floor also sells affordable cultural costumes, souvenirs and antiques, which make clever souvenirs,” Poh says.
3. Explore old school provision shops and confectionaries
These narrow, cluttered shops lined with tins of biscuits and everyday essentials still dot older neighbourhoods. Poh loves them for their stubborn continuity – communities rely on them, so they stay exactly as they are.
For old-school vibes, he also recommends checking out Love Confectionery in Bukit Merah which sells traditional buttercream cakes, or Ji Xiang Confectionery in Everton Park for a traditional glutinour rice pastry filled with peanut or mung bean paste.
4. Experience community rituals beyond the guidebooks
Poh suggests seeking out authentic, community-focused traditions rather than performances staged for tourists. He encourages looking for the scent of joss paper at neighbourhood temples during festivals or spotting Lion Dance troupes training in industrial estates around Chinese New Year.
Poh also recommends experiencing the rare sight of a makeshift Chinese opera performance alongside a grand Chinese banquet celebrating the deity Tua Pe Kong’s birthday (second lunar month, second day) at the eponymous temple in Loyang, Pasir Ris.
5. Taste heritage inside someone’s home
Adler believes that some of Singapore’s richest traditions survive in domestic spaces rather than commercial ones. He points to the rise of private home suppers – where hosts share family recipes and stories at their dining tables. He offers a similar experience via Adler Provisions, inviting guests to try his heritage kopi in his pre-war Tiong Bahru flat so they can understand the craft in context.
He also recommends visiting The Intan for a deeper look at Peranakan culture through objects, music and conversation. “Singapore changes fast,” Poh says. “But you can still find the places that shaped us if you know where to look.”
For more information on Singapore Airlines’ flights to Singapore, visit singaporeair.com.
